Challenges have been discontinued, but I hope you will enjoy browsing through this wonderful archive of Alice-inspired art!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Chapter 24: MORE Romance in Wonderland

 
  ...next [came] the ten courtiers; these were ornamented all over with diamonds, and walked two and two, as the soldiers did. After these came the royal children; there were ten of them, and the little dears came jumping merrily along hand in hand, in couples: they were all ornamented with hearts. Next came the guests, mostly Kings and Queens...
The theme of this quote is couples, and that's what we celebrate in February with Valentine's Day. For the month of February, we are celebrating Romance in Wonderland! As always, you may enter any project that fits the challenge theme, but those that feature Wonderland will have two chances at the prize instead of one. Multiple entries are encouraged but each must be on a separate post; enter by Feb. 23.

We are using the fabulous Steampunk Romance images by Simply Betty Stamps . The people pictured in this stamp line resemble grown-up characters in Wonderland, don't you think? You should also check out the whimsical Alice in Wonderland collection. Here is what the oh, so talented Betty has to say:

Simply Betty Stamps started in 2010, when I was forced to close my little scrapbook store due to my last baby coming early. I was home, with a preemie couldn't do much but draw, craft, and had just discovered blogging! I started to nose around about digis, how could I do this, how could I do that? Slowly but surely Simply Betty Stamps was born! I have a quirky sense of humor and I believe it shows in my images. I have immortalized my kids in my images as it is what I love creating with, their everyday shenanigans and goofy ways. I love sharing my creativity, I can't tell you how awesome it is to see others creating with SBS images! I look forward to continuing to bring in the quirkiness to crafters across the globe and look forward to many years of fun images.

We continue the of our Romance in Wonderland Challenge at The Altered Alice and here we have a couple of tags from Donna Mundinger of Popsicle Toes, using more of the fabulous Steampunk Romance images from Simply Betty.

First off is Romance Annie who makes a fabulous Alice, don'tcha think? On her way to the croquet field Alice stops to pluck a rose from the Queen's tree where the cards are busily painting them red. I've used a book page for the background and colored only the roses, which helps set the stage.
 

And so you might ask, who is the object of her affection? Why none other than the Hatter, played by Romance Mercius, of course. Isn't he the dapper one?


Donna kept the color scheme going, as they are companion tags, using the same background DP but going a bit darker and more masculine here. Please visit Donna at Popsicle Toes to view more of the wonderful Wonderland details she's included on her tags.   It looks like the Hatter's pocket watch indicates it's time for romance and there is still time to enter our Romance in Wonderland Challenge.  You have until February 23 to link up your projects to the post below for a chance to win the $15 gift certificate to Simply Betty Stamps.




Monday, February 4, 2013

Starting CHAPTER 24: Romance in Wonderland

...next [came] the ten courtiers; these were ornamented all over with diamonds, and walked two and two, as the soldiers did. After these came the royal children; there were ten of them, and the little dears came jumping merrily along hand in hand, in couples: they were all ornamented with hearts. Next came the guests, mostly Kings and Queens...
The theme of this quote is couples, and that's what we celebrate in February with Valentine's Day. For the month of February, we are celebrating Romance in Wonderland! As always, you may enter any project that fits the challenge theme, but those that feature Wonderland will have two chances at the prize instead of one. Multiple entries are encouraged but each must be on a separate post; enter by Feb. 23.
We are using the fabulous Steampunk Romance images by Simply Betty Stamps . The people pictured in this stamp line resemble grown-up characters in Wonderland, don't you think? You should also check out the whimsical Alice in Wonderland collection. Here is what the oh, so talented Betty has to say:
Simply Betty Stamps started in 2010, when I was forced to close my little scrapbook store due to my last baby coming early.  I was home, with a preemie  couldn't do much but draw, craft, and had just discovered blogging!  I started to nose around about digis, how could I do this, how could I do that?  Slowly but surely Simply Betty Stamps was born!  I have a quirky sense of humor and I believe it shows in my images.  I have immortalized my kids in my images as it is what I love creating with, their everyday shenanigans and goofy ways.  I love sharing my creativity, I can't tell you how awesome it is to see others creating with SBS images!  I look forward to continuing to bring in the quirkiness to crafters across the globe and look forward to many years of fun images.

So get busy and show us your interpretation of  Romance in Wonderland!

Design Team Inspiration

Bonnie McLain of Love Light and Peace created the most incredible star book featuring the entire cast of characters!


You will need to go to Bonnie's blog to see all the detailed photos, closeups of the characters and more pages in this FABULOUS star book, and be sure to leave her some love while you are there! Star books are a time consuming endeavor, and I am so thrilled that Bonnie took the time to make such a beautiful project for us. Thank you Bonnie!

Once again we bow to the Queen of 3D Paper Projects, our own Donna Mundinger of Popsicle Toes and her Wondeland mailbox!
Donna created an amazing mailbox, ready to receive Valentine's from Wonderland! The flag really raises and lowers, complete with pearls and blue gingham bow.
The postage stamp letters spelling Alice are the perfect label for this pearl-studded mailbox! The silver teapot, teacup and tea bag are charming. Sorry, I couldn't resist the pun!
Donna's trademark use of alphabet beads is the perfect finishing touch on the back of the mailbox. I really love the color scheme; the powder blue and white are cheerful, and soft red makes it pop. The soft shades make it fresh and fun rather than patriotic.
I love the way Alice is framed on the end of the box, complete with a silver key ring charm! She looks lovely against the heart-shaped red lace doily. This image is lovely and Donna has colored her beautifully. Be sure to stop by Popsicle Toes to get all the details on construction of this amazing mailbox, and to leave Donna some love!

3D project abound this month, as Barbara Washington of Magic Delights created a wonderful Valentine Pop-Up card!
The cover sets the tone. I love the white stamped letters contrasting the embossed red heart. Two of the Steampunk Romance characters are examining their Valentine offerings of cards and flowers! But the magic is inside...
Ta da! I love the way the folded pop-up is a series of hearts, with all characters facing the center doily. Those rhinestone flourishes add a festive note!
Trimming out the characters was well worth the effort; that white rim makes them stand out beautifully from the rich red patterned background.
Thanks Barbara for such a lovely Valentine project! Be sure to stop by Barbara's blog for details and to leave her some love!

Amy Bowerman of Plucking Daisies was created a set of six Valentine tags using a variety of images from past sponsors! She was inspired by past Tim Holtz tag series and they are wonderfully detailed.





I love the torn colored kraft card stock, embossed with the Postcards folder, so appropriate for a Valentine theme! The strong crackle-stamped jewel tone backgrounds really unifies the series of tags, and the embellishments add texture and interest! Fantastic job Amy, these tags are fabulous and I absolutely love them! Be sure to stop by Plucking Daisies for all the details and to leave Amy some love!

Submit your Romance in Wonderland projects by Feb. 23 using the Linky Tool below. PLEASE include your name or your blog name in the TITLE, this helps me enormously when it is time to do the honorable mentions. Note: If you are viewing this in an email or reader, you may need to go to the blog by clicking on the title of this post in order to submit or view the projects.
Please leave a comment before you go!

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Winner & Honorable Mentions: CHAPTER 23, Anything Goes

Winner!

The randomly chosen winner of our CHAPTER 23 Challenge is Ali of Alipeeps Art, participating from the UK!  I wonder if she will choose any of his wonderful AIW images?  I love the textured white background with bling; the white margin around the beatifully colored image really ties it into the background and I love the layer placement.  Ali, please email me through the link in the left column of my blog, and you are also entitled to display the winner blog badge above!

 Ali will win her choice of three amazing digis from artist Rick St. Dennis!


Designer of over 100 theatrical productions, Rick St Dennis (Donald McAfee) is also the author of 4 books on decorative painting and contributor to at least a dozen national magazines on crafts and art. St. Dennis has appeared on such TV shows as Home Matters with Susan Powell, Aileen's Crafts and others. He was Crafts editor for Country Folk Art Magazine and sold his artwork nationally through galleries and shows. For a complete bio of his amazing career, see Rick's blog!


Honorable Mentions!

First, we had a number of great entries that featured our sponsor's wonderful images, of both the cute and creepy varieties!

Fantastic tag featuring Rick's Queen of Hearts by Shary of The Other Side of Me Revitalised.

Teacup card with Rick's Alice and Company by Lynne at Her Craftiness. Love the soft colors!

Monster Cheshire
Falling Alice and monster rabbit
Monique of Monique's Dark Arts contributed two horror projects using Rick St. Dennis images; I love her captions!

Wendy of WendyLynn's Paper Whims also a card using Alice and Company, and a second project:
Wendy also created a wonderful pendant with a teabag charm made from a small ceramic tile!

I absolutely ADORE this project by Leintje from the Netherlands. I love projects that feature book text! 

Jass of Happiness Crafts created Wonderland in a teacup, it's charming!

Sue Davies of Sue The Iron created this fab tag with a cautionary lesson on the dangers of making comments on other's bums! Hah!


The mix of colors, patterns and textures on this card by Jenn Borjeson of Stamping Angel Jenn just make me happy!

All those mentioned here are entitled to display the Honorable Mention blog badge!

Be sure to take a look at all the great projects, if I had time I would have listed them all! Note: if you are reading this in email or a reader, you will have to click on the title of the post to view the projects on the blog. 
Please leave a comment before you go, and check back tomorrow for the next challege, sponsored by Simply Betty Stamps!

Saturday, February 2, 2013

CHAPTER 23: We're All Mad Here so Anything Goes!


"We're all mad here" is the favorite Alice quote of artist Rick St. Dennis, so the challenge was anything goes! Be mad! Get cute, get creepy, get crazy, because Rick St. Dennis has amazing digi stamps in all those styles, including many wonderful AIW images!

Designer of over 100 theatrical productions, Rick St Dennis (Donald McAfee) is also the author of 4 books on decorative painting and contributor to at least a dozen national magazines on crafts and art. St. Dennis has appeared on such TV shows as Home Matters with Susan Powell, Aileen's Crafts and others. He was Crafts editor for Country Folk Art Magazine and sold his artwork nationally through galleries and shows. For a complete bio of his amazing career, see Rick's blog!

Design Team Inspiration

We have the final installment of calendar pages from Bonnie McLain of Love Light and Peace Her fabulous calendar features Rick St. Dennis' wonderful illustrations plus her own "tangled" hand-drawn embellishments! Be sure to visit her blog to see the entire calendar pages, and be sure to leave her a comment on these wonderful creations!
September - Bonnie has the Cheshire Cat frolicking in the fall leaves!

October - Bonnie has certainly done justice to Rick's zombie Alice!


November - Alice and company have gathered!

December - Merry Creepmas!

These photos are just a hint of the complete project: see September through December on Bonnie's blog - you must go to Bonnie's blog to see the full calendar pages and they are gorgeous, well worth the visit! Please leave Bonnie a comment while you are there, and see January through April and May through August as well.


I will be back tomorrow with the winner and honorable mentions! Sorry for the delay, I have been working way too much overtime and the end of the month is always a high demand period. While you are waiting, please enjoy all the wonderful projects submitted by our lovely readers, linked below. (Note: if you are viewing this post in a reader or email, please click on the title of the post to go to the blog to see the entries or submit a project.)
Please leave a comment before you go!